Author Cory Doctorow speaks out on YouTube and alleges that his book was banned from Washington's summer reading program.

An author is crying foul after Washington High School Principal Michael Roberts pulled his book from the school's ninth- and 10th-grade summer reading list.

Cory Doctorow on Friday posted a YouTube video in an effort to reach out to students at Washington about his book "Little Brother" being "banned," and he pledged to send 200 free copies of the young adult novel to the high school.

Roberts argues he only pulled "Little Brother" off the reading list for ninth- and 10th-graders but left it on the list for his older students to read.

"First of all, there has been no banning," Roberts said in a telephone interview. "I don't ban books. I take it upon myself to look at what kids are exposed to and what's in their best interests."

Roberts cited "language" and "overtures" in the book as the reasons he decided to remove it from the summer reading list for underclassmen.

"Little Brother" is a young adult fiction novel about a teenager who stands up against the government, particularly Homeland Security, in the wake of a terrorist attack in San Francisco, where the book takes place.

Doctorow said he was scheduled to visit the high school at the end of the summer reading program to discuss the book with students.

"I think that it's a pity that I'm not going to get a chance to do that (discuss the novel) with your whole school," Doctorow said on YouTube. "And it's not because I think you all should read my book or because I was hoping to sell you a lot of copies. ... I was doing this because I think this whole discussion is important, and I think talking about it in schools is important."

University of West Florida librarian Andrea Golonka said educators trying to keep books away from youths has been an ongoing issue in the area.

"It's been going on for awhile, and it's almost always wrong," Golonka said of censorship. "Historically, (educators) ban books because they take things out of context. They'll just look at one part of a book or a few words but not the overall message."

Roberts said that he had scanned the book, and that's when he noticed "Little Brother" included language and themes he didn't think were appropriate for his younger students.

"At least he (Roberts) is letting the older students read it," Golonka said. "But it's still censorship. How is not letting the younger students read it a threat to teenagers? They have a right to know about unpleasant truths about society and history and government."

Golonka added that, while she hasn't read "Little Brother," "the book must have some merit or something to offer students if it was on the list in the first place."

Roberts said he does find the book appropriate for some readers.

"That book is on our reading list right now on our website," Roberts said. "That book is on the list of books to be read for AP (Advanced Placement) and 11th-graders. It's been posted there forever. It's not on the schoolwide reading list because I don't feel it's appropriate for ninth- and 10th-graders."

Doctorow said he is going to send 200 free print editions to Washington, as well as a signed copy and a poster to be auctioned off at a fundraising event of the students' choice.

"I'm hoping you guys are intrigued that there's an adult in your life who thinks reading this book will somehow harm you," Doctorow said in the video. "I hope that will make you want to read it.

"Your principal hasn't destroyed this book but has destroyed the chance to discuss this book and talk to each other," Doctorow said.

Doctorow's book also can be downloaded online for free, he said.

"When you censor a book, people want to know why you're censoring it," he said. "And they want to see it."